Nervous about buying a PBT
- Thread starter E46Twist
- Start date
E46Twist
New member
I have two 24 gallon tubs I could use and buy another to store my mix water in. My main thing is trying to use a little water volume as possible because I can only store about 24 gallons at a time(larger container would take up too much space.) And it really stressed a di filter to be run that often. I read a lot of people using a 5 gal bucket for fish up to 4" including tangs and angels but that seems cruel.
A suitable compromise would be two 10 gal tanks. A 3" PBT will be fine in that for 2 weeks. Especially if you are doing 2 day intervals; that should alleviate any ammonia worries. Use Prime or Amquel on day 2 if you are really worried about it (I know PBT are pooping machines).
Generally speaking most if not all acanthurus tangs are really aggressive so it should be the last fish added and a 125 is a little bit on the small side for a pbt as others have stated it would do mush better in a 180 and make sure you have equal amount of rock and swimming room as this provides as an in between meals snack and a sense of security and generally helps the fish gain it's nice deep blue colour and as for qt 4 weeks is recommended but double to 8 weeks just to be sure a good copper treatment is cupramine and make sure you have a reliable copper test kit like a salifert as I find api is less accurate
jnc914
Active member
Since it sounds like there is no talking you out of keeping a PBT in a 125 gallon tank, here is my humble opinion and experience with a PBT in that size tank. A standard 180 and a standard 125 are both typically 6' in length, so it really doesn't matter all that much in regards to which tank it "will do better in". In the long term, a 6' tank is not enough swim room for most Acanthurus once they hit the 4-6" range. Acanthurus are known to become belligerant and downright aggressive and stressed when they feel cramped. I kept a gorgous PBT in my current 180 until it reach the 4.5" mark, then it had to be removed and sold to a friend with a much larger tank. It was aggressive to anything that moved, including my hand and arms. I have also kept an Achille's tang in an 8' 300 gallon display and it became a complete bully and would attack larger Angels.
So basically the question is "Can you keep a PBT in a 125?", and technically the answer is "Yes". However do you want to keep the PBT healthy and alleviate aggression in the long term, then the answer is look for a larger tank or skip the PBT.There are plenty of people on these forums that will argue the contrary.
BTW, I sucessfully used tank transfer and Hypo to treat both specimens. I also run Ozone, large UVs, and an oversized skimmer which I believe helped keep the PBT and Achille's free of parasites. Good Luck!
So basically the question is "Can you keep a PBT in a 125?", and technically the answer is "Yes". However do you want to keep the PBT healthy and alleviate aggression in the long term, then the answer is look for a larger tank or skip the PBT.There are plenty of people on these forums that will argue the contrary.
BTW, I sucessfully used tank transfer and Hypo to treat both specimens. I also run Ozone, large UVs, and an oversized skimmer which I believe helped keep the PBT and Achille's free of parasites. Good Luck!
goreef170
New member
I totally agree with what is said here. If you do get your PBT it may work for a while. I know about the temptation of getting a fish that you want. Think about the fish in long terms. Do you really want a stressed out fish down the road that is a ich magnet, and will get overly aggressive if stressed out. I wouldn't want to have to deal with it. I do currently have a PBT in my 250. And at times I wonder if its big enough to keep him happy. Its all about keeping the fish HAPPY and not STRESSED. Good luck in whatever you choose.